Humans search in acquiring knowledge begins with thinking. As Descartes explains, it is our ability to think which sets us apart as individuals and has led to advances in society’s advancements. Knowledge is based off our ability to think, and one way which we think creatively is by using our curiosity. Curiosity is one of the most important parts of an individuals critical thinking. To help us explore our curiosities we use our imagination. We create new ideas, images, and concepts using our imagination and fiction. Over the course of history it was imagination which was used to develop the innovative ideas used in the advancement of societies behaviors. Imagination is generated through many ways, one being through storytelling. By using stories and fiction we are able to see the different perspectives and deeper thoughts of certain people. Without fiction everyone would have the same objective opinions. Fiction is important to tell us that not everything is set in stone, you can dream, think and be creative.  Storytelling allows us to reflect on those perspectives, thoughts, and dreams and allow us to generate our own opinions on those ideas, adding to societies knowledge pool. This creates a growing cycle in which people build off the knowledge of others. Fiction and stories are responsible for almost every invention we have today. Without it we would not have dreamt of things like self driving cars, smart phones, even going to the moon. It allows us to follow Descartes path of asking what if, dreaming big, and most importantly thinking independently.

The leaves have all fallen leaving not one single leaf; what remains is the sturdy roots of the oak tress. However, the oak trees appear very sad and lonely because they have withered from the long and dark winters. The trees are dead just like the dead in the graveyard. Even the Abbey that stands tall appears as if it is losing its will to stand. The gravestones have eroded from weather conditions and appear wilted. It has taken a lot of wear and tear of the years as have the trees. All around there is death. All that can be seen is the aura of death. Despite this, there is a glimmer of hope. There are a couple of people walking toward the Abbey. Perhaps, they are planning to modernize the fading Abbey and the surrounding oak trees. The sun that is rising over the dark Abbey and oak trees provides a sense that not all hope is lost, that past death there is life and happiness that awaits. Although Casper David Frederick’s painting is very dark and gloomy and seems to reference death all around as a theme, there seems to be an underlying message that everything will turn out fine. The contrast between the bottom half and the top half shows that even though there is darkness, there is also light. The light peeping through and the people walking through the Abbey provides a sense that there will be hope and glory.

Although Descartes theories weren’t perfect by any means but given the time period when he came up with them, they were really advanced and showed a complex understanding of the human mind. During the era of Descartes, people didn’t really seem to question nearly as much as we do now. Ideas were just accepted as truth, rarely based on logic or fact. What was the reason for absolute monarchy? Why were women treated as if they were less important than men. How come those of different races were treated so badly? These things were rarely questioned, they just were. A “thats just the way it is and the way it’ll always be” type of time period. So when descartes published ideas about the need to think critically and the need to doubt almost everything he’s ever encountered he was extremely ahead of his time. I don’t agree with all of his philosophies however there is definitely truth spoken in his words. I agree on the need to order thoughts from simple to complex and to analyze heavily as to not have any oversights. Unlike descartes however I wouldn’t deem my senses and perception unreliable simply because I have no proof they really exist. To the best of knowledge I trust in my senses because without them I feel I really wouldn’t have anything to count on. I find it kind of ironic how Descartes was a firm believer in god because many people who’ve studied his theories and came after reject the notion of a god. I think this proves that Descartes had faith in something in some form and didn’t truly rely on logic for everything, even thats the way it seemed.

Story telling through fiction is an extremely important component of society. It allows us to us to encapsulate and express certain ideas, archetypes , themes and feelings in a wildly entertaining way. Throughout history stories have been essential, providing insight and entertainment to those who come across them. As Descartes famously proclaimed, Cogito ergo sum; I think therefore I am. The most important part of being human is the ability to think and to be able to come to different and unique conclusions. When we read or hear a story it gives us a chance to step out of our own box and have a completely objective experience, have a the ability to be a bystander in a tale that has little to do with us. In my personal opinion this makes us a whole lot better at critical thinking. During the course of own stories (lives) we tend to be a lot more subjective based on our personal experiences as well as our emotions such as greed, fear , jealousy ,love ,belief amongst many more. We have a tendency to view things from a certain lens/ angle, our angle. However, fiction allows to break through this barrier because there are no strings attached. We no longer feel the need to see things through our lens, there are no consequences. Instead, we out ourselves in someone else’s shoes and we try to understand their point of view and situation. This helps give us a much more broad outlook and can help in all areas of life by giving insight into things that we have never personally encountered. This is just one glimpse of the reason fiction and storytelling is an essential aspect of society.

Humans, by nature have always been very curious beings. We are always questioning the things and occurrences around us. Perhaps, this is why people filled their need for knowledge with telling stories and writing poems. This was a way to express their feelings and opinions. Stories and poems were inspirational boards for them; to allow their minds to roam creatively. Telling stories, writing poems and stories was the start of the spread of fiction. People created stories to fill their curiosity and the spread of these stories are what led us to gain the knowledge we have today. Although these tellings of stories were fictitious, they allowed us to broaden our views. They often reveal our deepest desires as well as what we want for our own lives. These stories allow us to become more knowledgeable about self improvement, as well as expanding and opening our minds to ideas; which is what leads us to greater knowledge. Even today we are knowledgeable because of media such as fictional stories, movies, and such. From these works, we are able to entertain ourselves to fill a void as well as obtain knowledge on all types of ideas and subjects.

It is an important aspect of human nature to tell stories to pass on knowledge or some type of understanding. Storytelling started with the idea of passing on history and as we became more developed, so did our stories. We questioned our existence and the existence of other matters and how it all webbed together. Sometimes we had to create the stories because we didn’t know the truth. And sometimes we created the stories because people understood the metaphors more than they understood the facts. Before the discoveries in space, the sky was something fantastic and the stars were more than just burning gas. As Amini points out, these stars, with lines drawn between them, were given names and attributes. These stars sparked curiosity because there was no way that these stars were just bright lights. Even without knowing about the biological nature of stars, people understood that they were necessary and served a purpose. People knew that everything is happening simultaneously and equally important. Stories of fiction help to convey our perceptions of what is important. When we hear stories of fiction we connect the meanings into our own lives. This helps us to bring shape to our ever-meandering paths. Descartes understood that we have to process information to exist. By telling stories, we are able to process information and make connections between fiction and reality. It is important that we tell stories because it enhances our knowledge. Stories enhance our ideas of reality. Stories are what make us human.

We humans have a deeply curious about everything, nature around us. This curiosity is important to develop our culture and lives – Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, they are all curious characters. Because of this curiosity, we make stories, tell them and finally come up with something based on the curiosity. For example, people made the Greek and Roman mythology by looking at the stars that were scattering in the night sky, and drew imaginary lines between those stars and imagined them as beings a scorpion, crab, goat, fish, twins, the Virgin… And attached names: Aldebaran, Cassiopeia, Danu, Hamal, Orion, Southern Cross, the Plow… They also shared and told the stories that they made each other. They built some temples based on the mythology by the story, and it improved their architectural skills as well. And the tradition based in a mythical realm with the background of an epic world, is now carried on by theater, novels and film. The story that we make recently is more focused on the science stuff such as SF film. And the fantastical work of science fiction does happen in real life now. So, we can see that the form of knowledge comes from our curiosity and the idea of fiction.

Many moons ago, human made stories and told them to overcome uncertainty and fear. Following “Story” from Hasif Amin, people tell a story, so that we understand why and how this world as created, who our ancestors were and where they came from, so that we understand where we are and where we may be going. I agree with her opinion.  As I said earlier at the first paragraph, the reason why we tell stories is because of the curiosity, and might be the fear that they’ve never have an experience. Sometimes, inspirational stories such as God help human overcome fear for real as well. Overall, the reason why people make stories and tell them is not only to overcome the fear but also the curiosity that they’ve never have an experience.

If there’s anything I remember from when I first started going to school, it would have be the constant and continuous pleading of my parents to “read, read and read.” My teachers in school stressed the importance of reading just as much as my parents did, and after a while, it just stuck. Reading all sorts of novels, books, and articles have opened up my eyes to a whole world of things that I would never have pondered about had I not read about it earlier. After reading this article, I can better understand the importance of reading. This article was profound in the sense that it showed how the biggest stories of all time, even though fictitious, have lead to the emergence of great knowledge and ingenuity. Furthermore, many of the myths and legendary stories that have been passed down from generation to generation are ones that sugar coated the truth. I truly agree with Amini when he says that things of the past are easiest to remember when they are told in the manner of a story, as opposed to a mere chronology of events. The writers of these fiction novels are those who were creative geniuses of their time, and they have done the world a favor by sharing their ideas and imaginative creativity, with the rest of the world. These fiction stories lead to other fiction stories, which lead to other fiction stories, which, eventually, lead to an abundance of knowledge. Even though something is fiction, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s completely made up, and that’s why it can have such a profound effect on readers. Amini portrays the importance of fictitious reading with such eloquence that it makes me feel proud to have been an avid reader all my life.

For generations upon generations humans have used the tool/art of fiction to take the mind to an imaginary mysterious place. Fiction can often lead to ideas and theories which can then lead to knowledge. The beauty about fiction is that we can imagine as if we are in a reality. It is a deep thought but if we can think of fiction as an artificial reality, it makes it much easier to grasp the idea. I believe the idea of Fiction led to the enlightenment. When people began to read and indulge in fiction, they were in another reality where they came up with new thoughts and ideas, which ultimately led to the enlightenment. “I think therefor I am”, Fiction gives us the ability to create artificial knowledge which is translatable to the real world. Amini does a great job in portraying the power of storytelling, the boundaries are endless! Another great thing about fiction and storytelling, is that when you are reading or listening to a fiction you are in the storytellers’ world. You are seeing what they are seeing, but you can have your own thoughts. That’s what makes the mind amazing.  So does fiction lead to knowledge? Absolutely, fiction creates an artificial reality where we can think and have ideas that translate to the real world. I believe that fiction was a key component that ultimately led to the great Enlightenment.